Curtain stretcher



June 13, 1933. w. T. HUFF CURTAIN STRETCHAE'IR Filed Jan. '7, 1931curtains, to dry them d tension that Patented Jun 13, 1933 i i i ii ontoI i y new ews l Application ar a san ar 7, s n n soft-149.

the structure aswell as the means andmode of, operation of curtainstretching devices whereby theywill not only be cheapened inconstruction but will be more efficient in use, capable of being easilyand quickly applied,

This invention relates to curtainstretchers for stretching curta-ins ofthe lace or net Varietyafterlahndering. a 1 f i It is customary afterlaunderihgl-ac'e or net elated elem.

they will not materially take up or shrink and in order that they maydryin a smooth, flat condition without wrinkles. The usual h practice hasbeen to mount the curtains while 0 wet in a stretcher frame adjusted toprede- Jterminedsize; in: which the curtainsareheld iby heing engagedwith hooks or pins along their-margins; The shrinkage ofsthe curtain indrying causes scallops "orpoints to be formed on themargins ofithecurtain where engaged with the retaining hooks or pins of thestretcherframe, affording an unsightly appearance,.and Jmanytimescausing tearing of the curtain material. h

1t isnot-i entirely new ,to stretch curtains by T; suspending them; 1fnorna support 1 with Weights attachedto the lower end of the curtainand to this end weightilo'ds haveheen i. emp y d wh are int uc dnth-rough h 11 marginal t em o h cu t i r ithe t p a d bottom.Howeyerlnot ellcurtains are proyicled-withterminal' hems. V Hence suchmeth- 1011 is netun v rs l yap li le- 1 Inthe present inventi ne ther-earecontemopposite en; s of the curtain be stretched,

one of these clamp elements atleast being a h {tretching efiectwhen the,anditsen 'i Leas d iPfie e sp nde T e amp fli o wev r for thelopposlteendsjof -the curtain i en i a '1 som what a in the i aIpresentembodimentcomprise lengths of mate l b t e e 'e l l r theme w to$3119" *smnezuiy parallelism to rem 31 pair ofclamp 1 memb r 9f 1 sibsten ell y" fl t P hap hnd jofsuiiicientflen th to extend entirelyacross the curtain} to e engaged. U shaped a a prin c ps, are Pr vi edholdmg [clamp arms n engagement with the curtain.

a suspended.

5 The object oft-he invent-ionis 10 simplify memb en e e w h t ad ptedto efiect a uniform stretchingaction, andunlikely to get out "oirepair.L A furtherobj cc of the invention is to proiiicle stretching meanswhich is applicable to curtains of all types whether provided withterminal hems, with "fringe" or otherwise "shapedi A further object ofthe invention is to provide stretching means which if desired can beintroduced through the terminal hems as has been heretofore thepractice, or which maybe engagedexteriorly of suchhemmed endl Aiturtherobject of theinventioii is toprovide duo-functional spring clips whichnot only serve to hold the stretcher members in engagement with thecurtain but also" serve 'as hangers to suspendithe curtain fronianoverheadsupport or line. A

VViththe above primary and other incidental objects in View as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation, or theirequivalents *as liereinafter dc scribedaudset forth in the claims? a i p 'Referring 'to the accompanying drawingwherein isshown the preferredbut obviously not necessarily the only iormof embodiment oflt'he invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective View j of acurtain to hichhasbeenapphedthestretcher devices forming the subj ectmatter hereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one f the clamp membersremoved from the curtain. Figs'ss ancl4 areperspectiyeviews of springclips ifor securing the clamp inembers in enbe encased in suitablematerial such as celluloid, pyroxylin or the like which will protect thecurtain against discoloration. The arms of the clamp member 2 arepreferably slightly divergent when released from the curtain as is shownin Fig. 2 and are flexibly and resiliently interconnected by the bightportion 3 which is preferably though not necessarily formed into acircular eye. The adj acent faces of the clamp arms are flat and hencedo not mar the curtain to which the clamp is,

attached. In applying the stretching device the end of the curtainisintroduced between V the clamp arms and is secured at one side byapplying thereto a spring clip 4, the bight of which possessessufiicient tensionto contract the clamp arms upon the end of the curtainintroduced therebetween. The curtain is then stretched transversely ofthe curtain or in line .With the clamp member 2 and a second spring clip4 is applied to the free ends of the arms of the clamp 2. to contractthe arms into clamping throughout the entire Width of the curtain. Toinsure secure hold of the clamp upon the curtain, an additional clip 5may be introduced at a mid length point of the clamp. A similar clampmember 2 is applied in like manner to the opposite end of the curtain 1.

andsecured by the spring clips 5. The clips 4 employed at the ends ofthe upper clamp member have one side extended as at 6 and reversely bentto form a hanger hook by which the curtain with its engaged stretcherclamps may besuspended from-a line or overhead support. The bight of theclips 5 applied to the clamp elementat the lower end of the curtainissufficiently deep to clear any fringe-which may be carried by thecurtain and extend beyond the clamp element 2. The

curtain with the attached clamps being suspended from an overheadsupport, the weight of the lower clamp element is sufficient toaf fordthe necessary stretching action and maintain the curtain material tightor under tension while drying.

While the clamp members 2 are preferably formed from flat bar stock asbefore men- ,tioned, these'clamp arms may be of other cross sectionalcontour, as for example semicircular or even round. Likewise while thepreferred method of applicationis exteriorly of the curtain hems whichare clamped be: tween the arms 2, the elements 2 may be introducedthrough the terminal hems of the curtain as has heretofore been effectedinwhich case the spring clips are unnecessary.

From the above description it will beap- 1 not limited to thespecificfeatures shown, but

that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferredform of several modes of putting the invention into ef feet and theinvention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modificationswithin the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims. 7,

7 Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Means for stretching curtains and the like, comprising two U-shapedclamp members .of sufiicient length to extend transversely across theentire curtain, each end of which is to beengaged'in one of the saidclamps, one ofthe 'clamps'being of sufficient Weight to affordstretching strain to the curtain whensuspended, and suspension meanscarried by the clamp within which the upper end of the curtain isengaged by which the curtain and engaged clamps may be supported. V

2. A pair of elongated curtain clamps, each comprising a single'lengthof material reversely bent upon itself substantially in parallelism andof sufficient length to extend transversely of'a curtain and entirelythereacross, one ,end of which is engageable in each of the clamps,.andhanger means carried by one of the clamps for engagement with a supportto suspend the curtain therefrom with the other clamp supported entirelyby the curtain which 'is sub]ected to stretching effect by the weight ofsaid second clamp.

3. As an article of manufacture, a curtain clamp comprising a singlelength'of material reversely' bent upon itself substantially inparallelism and of sufficient length to extend transversely entirelyacross a curtain to be stretched, and means for holding thesubstantially parallel portions of the clamp in vclamping engagementwith a curtain introduced therebetween. f I

4. As an article of manufacture, a curtain clamp comprising a pair ofmembers extending substantially in parallelism and of sufiicient lengthto extend transversely entirely acrossithe curtainjto be stretched, oneend of one of said members being fixedly attached to one end of theother. member, the other ends of said members being free but resilientlyurged toward each other, and means for holding the ubs tantidllyparallefmembers of the clamp in clamping engagement with a curtainintroduced therebetween.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day ofDecember A. D.

WALTER T.

